The NETGEAR ReadyNAS 102 review continues with this look at the remote access and synching features. Read on for details!
Part One of my review detailed the installation process. Part Two continues with a look at the remote access and synching features.
NETGEAR ReadyCloud Overview
ReadyCloud is where NETGEAR included the remote access, synching and administration functions. Before we being, let’s start with this overview video from NETGEAR that shows off the feature set.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_00jWck4lY%5D
Using READYCloud
The adventure begins by installing ReadyCloud. This is simple: download the installer, run it and wait until the software is installed! I ran this program on Windows 7 and Windows 8, and Mac is also supported, as well as Android and IOS devices as well. Once you install ReadyCloud, you see this icon in your taskbar.
Click and you’ll see this:
From here, you can browse files on the NAS, click on your ReadyDROP synch files and get to the Web Admin webpages. Let’s click on Browse here and see what we get!
When I installed ReadyDROP, I pointed it at the SD card in this Windows 7 laptop with a 64GB SSD. I have pictures and documents in this directory and it synchs automatically with every pc with ReadyDROP configured, and of course is backed up to the NAS over the internet or local network, depending on where you are. Installation was simple and took about 15 minutes and this works flawlessly.
Clicking Browse opens File Explorer and shows you what files are on the NAS. Here is mine:
Here is my Hawaii photos that I have on this NAS:
Clicking on Web Access gives you the normal webpage that allows you to configure the NAS unit.
READYCloud Verdict
This works the same way, whether you are on the local network or over the internet. This is one of the simplest implementations of remote access that I’ve seen, with access secured via a VPN connection to NETGEAR, you and to your NAS unit. NETGEAR secures your traffic over the internet and handles all of the dynamic addressing, and no port forwarding is required. QNAP is close, but this is the best-executed and fastest remote access solution that I’ve reviewed. Very nice!
Stay tuned for Part Three where I go over media streaming and provide the all-around evaluation!
